Advent Begins - Are We Alert, Ready? For What?

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5  •  Psalm 122  •  Romans 13:11-14  •  Matthew 24:36-44

We begin the new Lectionary Year A with the first Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting and preparation, a time of expectancy for the light which breaks through the darkness, a time of hope for the kind of peace which turns spears into plowshares, and swords into pruning hooks.  In  "Why Advent Is The Hardest Time For Faithful Christians" The Rev. Canon Catherine A. Caimano discusses what we must take off to put on the armor of light mentioned in Paul's letter to the church in Rome.

In " Like a Thief," Debie Thomas explores what Jesus means when he says we must be alert and awake for the life giving birth and coming of the Son of Man.  What is coming for us? What is life giving? What is not? 

Tired of all the talking heads giving us their  opinions and predictions, telling us what to think? What should we be doing now and for our future? Read Amy Frykholm's "Our Hidden Future - The First Sunday In Advent."

Christ the King - A King Like No Other

 Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Luke 1:68-79  •  Psalm 46  •  Colossians 1:11-20  •  Luke 23:33-43

This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King Sunday as we close Lectionary Year C and enter the Advent season in Lectionary A. What images come to mind when you think of "King of Kings?" Luke's gospel depicts Christ the King like no other. A king who is mocked, forgives those who are crucifying him, and receives a thief on another cross into paradise. Unlike any concept of royalty ever formulated.

What kind of King is Jesus? What does this mean for us? Read Debie Thomas' "A King Like No Other." Think about this as we enter the season of Advent.

When Temples Fall

 Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12  •  Malachi 4:1-2a and Psalm 98

  •  2 Thessalonians 3:6-13  • Luke 21:5-19

This week as we hear Jesus tell us about the destruction of the temple, and what many have called the "end times," we learn to not invest ourselves, our lives, our hopes and dreams in transient things, but in that which endures, and lasts forever - even when and as "temples fall."

The passage from Isaiah tells of the creation of a new heaven and new earth. When no longer shall the sound of weeping be heard, or the cry of distress. When infants shall live longer than a few days, and the young shall live out a lifetime. When people will no longer labor in vain, but enjoy their work, and children will no longer be born only to face calamity.

These passages are truly apocalyptic, which means a "revealing" in Greek. They are not just about the end times. Why does Jesus tell his disciples, who are admiring the splendor and grandeur of the temple, that no stone will be left standing? In what, or whom, do we place, or misplace, our hopes, dreams, and aspirations? In what, or whom, have we given up, or  resigned ourselves into a malaise or cynicism? How can we realize what Jesus is telling us? What questions should we be asking?

Read Debie Thomas' "By Your Endurance," and Janet Hunt's "New Heavens, New Earth...", The Rev. Dr. Marshall Jolly's "Apocalypse! "

Energizing Hope

 Scripture: Haggai 1:15b-2:9 and Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98  •  Job 19:23-27a and Psalm 17:1-9  •2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17  •  Luke 20:27-38

As we continue our studies of "faith living," our Scripture readings speak of the resurrection. This week we will discuss "resurrection living."

The Sadducees in today's gospel do not believe in the resurrection. They try to trick and ridicule  Jesus with their absurd and extreme examples about marriage partners in heaven if people married more than once. Jesus did not treat them with scorn, but with patience and assurance in his answer. What was his answer? 

What do you think about resurrection? Especially in a post modern, empirical verification based age? How does that compare with life two millennia ago. Read Debi Thomas' "Children of the Resurrection."

Walter Brueggemann says the prophet Haggai energizes hope in a hopeless situation. Read Dan Clendenin's account of Haggai in the rebuilding of the temple in the midst of Israel's exile and captivity in  Haggai and the Politics of God . How does this relate to the gospel and the passage from Job?

Zacchaeus: When Salvation Comes

 Scripture: All Saints Sunday Scripture

For Pentecost 21C:

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144  • 

 

Isaiah 1:10-18 and Psalm 32:1-7  • 

 

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12  • 

 

Luke 19:1-10

We have the latitude of celebrating All-Saints this Sunday, or following the Lectionary in the 21st Sunday after Pentecost.

In "Dead Sinners: Revised and Edited," The Rev. Cannon Frank Logue explores what makes a saint. 

Tamara Plummer expounds upon the All Saints gospel of Jesus' telling one to turn the other cheek when struck in " Paradox."

In "When Salvation Comes," Debie Thomas takes us on a journey with Jesus as he encounters the tax collector, Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus from his perch in  sycamore tree. He is delighted to be seen by Jesus. Jesus tells Zacchaeus that he wants to go to Zacchaeus' home. That day, Jesus announced that salvation has come to his house. How can salvation come to our homes? Do we want to be seen by Jesus? Does he see us? What does he see? How do we see others? Do we want salvation to come to our homes?

In "Zacchaeus: The Tale of a Tax Collector ," Dan Clendenin examines the Greek syntax and discusses two different interpretations of Zacchaeus' response to Jesus' calling. What is our response?

Self Righteous Judgment

 Scripture: 

• Joel 2:23-32 and Psalm 65  • 
 
• Sirach 35:12-17 or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 and Psalm 84:1-7  • 
 
• 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18  • 
 
• Luke 18:9-14

The last few weeks we have considered lessons in "faith living." We have read and discussed scripture and articles which have provided things to consider in living out the gospel innately, so that it becomes so much a part of us that we manifest God's presence and love.

Some of the lessons we have learned are: (1) keep it simple, and go about our work and what is expected of us, with our "hand to the plow" - the reward will come; (2) go about our work with a spirit of humble and joyous thanks and praise for God's gift of a present hope and blessing; (3) and, as we considered last week, the lesson of keeping our faith through persistent prayerful relationship with God, which builds trust and assurance that God's will will be done in God's good time, and God's purpose for us will be fulfilled.

Last week we considered Jesus' parable of the unjust judge. This week, the next lesson in "faith living" concerns our judgment of others, and the trap of being self righteous in the process. What are the consequences? In our judgment of others how can we avoid being self righteous?

Consider Bruce Maples' article "Seeing Others as Zeros," The Rev. Joseph Pagano's Modern Day Donatism and the Church  and The Ven. Irene Maliaman's  Sinners

Persistent Faith

 Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34 and Psalm 119:97-104  •  Genesis 32:22-31 and Psalm 121  •  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5  •  Luke 18:1-8

 This week Jesus continues "faith lessons" with a story of a widow who persists in calling on the unjust judge who gives her justice so she won't wear him out by continually calling on him. Jesus tells us how much quicker God will grant justice to those who call on him day and night.

We have had a series of lessons about faith the last few weeks. I have often thought how we can carry out God's call to us, to live in discipleship without having to think about it, or rationalize it, so that it is such an innate part of us, that God's compassion, love, mercy and justice are manifest in and through us in all we say or do.

Two weeks ago, part of that answer was given - keep it simple, like servants who know what is expected of them, and continue to work without regard for the reward. Last week, we were told to go on living our lives joyously, in thankfulness and praise, and not let the opportunity to hear God's call slip by, even in the midst of crisis, uncertainty - even in exile, and even when we need an exodus. 

The Rev. Lucy Strandlund, in " Telling the Story," gives us food for thought as she invokes the faith which is handed down through generations, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in her homily from Paul's second letter to Timothy.

This third step of faith enabling us to act out God's love and faith innately, without a second thought, is praying and building a relationship with God which results in trust, and gives us hope that God's will be done in God's time. 

Through all of this, Jesus tells us "Your faith has made you whole."